Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo reacts to being fouled by the Sacramento Kings near the end of the fourth quarter Monday night at the Pepsi Center. Afflalo scored 32 points in Denver 119-116 overtime victory. AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

Rudy Fernandez stayed back in Denver to rest his back Friday, skipping the Nuggets’ game in Houston. He traveled to San Antonio for Sunday’s game against the Spurs but couldn’t play. He sat out again Monday, missing the home game against the Kings.

Fernandez has missed eight consecutive games because of his strained lower back.

“I had back surgery once,” Nuggets coach George Karl said, “and I think he’s had similar back surgery. The back, I’ve had doctors say recently, we don’t understand why it spasms, why it locks up, why it kicks out a disc. I had surgery on my back and for 30 years people said, ‘You should have never had surgery.’ I know there are spasms, pain and stiffness. I don’t know exactly what Rudy has, but I know he’s uncomfortable.”

Fernandez, who dealt with back pain while with Portland, hasn’t played since Feb. 17 at Memphis. He is averaging 9.3 points and 2.4 assists.

The Nuggets play Wednesday at home vs. the Cavaliers.

Chandler update. Wilson Chandler can sign only with the Nuggets this season, but that doesn’t mean he will. Chandler and the team have yet to agree on a long-term contract. If he doesn’t sign with Denver this season, Chandler will be a restricted free agent this summer. He averaged 15.3 points last season with the Knicks and Nuggets.

Too much of a good thing? The Nuggets began their nine-game homestand, which Karl suggested could be “too long. … It’s just a different rhythm. You’re not used to being home for three weeks. There’s more of a rhythm of in and out. But it might work out. I think there are many things that could be positive about it but also things that are psychologically different.

“Can we get some practices in? That’s probably the thing that’s energizing to us. We’ve had a really good focus in the time we’ve been on the court together. Our execution has been in a good place. We’re getting a feel for the personalities. The thing that’s been scary is the lack of repetition.”

Benjamin Hochman was a sports columnist for The Denver Post until August 2015 before leaving for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, his hometown newspaper. Hochman previously worked for the New Orleans Times-Picayune, winner of two Pulitzer Prizes for its Hurricane Katrina coverage. Hochman wrote the Katrina-themed book “Fourth and New Orleans,” published in 2007.

Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson had butterflies before Sunday's game against the Detroit Red Wings. It wasn't because of the big-name opponent, but rather his return from a 13-game injury absence and being stoked to rejoin a team in a playoff push and looking for its third postseason appearance in 10 years.